Informed consent to complete the survey

You are kindly invited to participate in the Riga Stradins University (RSU) PhD Daiga Katrina Bitena in a study on the relevance of the dimension of spirituality after breast cancer treatment, by filling in an anonymous survey questionnaire. The title of the study is “Preparing Oncology Patients for the Safe Practice of the Spirituality Dimension during the Treatment Period for Self-Help Purposes”.

The survey will take approximately 30-35 minutes to complete. Most of the questions are multiple-choice, but four are open-ended - we encourage you to give as broad and thoughtful answers as possible.

The aim of the study is to better understand how women after breast cancer treatment use spiritual practices or seek spiritual support, how this affects their sense of self and their ability to return to work.

Based on the results of the study, it will be possible to developing more effective support measures and health programmes, to help breast cancer patients recover more successfully, return to work and maintain their quality of life, thus reducing the social and economic impact of the disease.

The questionnaire will include questions that can prompt reflection on yourself, your needs, values and experiences. You will also be asked to provide information about your diagnosis, the course of your treatment and your spiritual outlook. In this way, participation in the study can help you to understand yourself better and create a sense of belonging. At the same time, answering personal and sensitive questions can be emotionally upsetting.

Remember that participation in the survey is completely voluntary - you can refuse to complete the questionnaire at any time and there will be no negative consequences. If you experience any emotional difficulties in completing the questionnaire and would like support, please use the resources available here.

The questionnaire is anonymous, you will not be identifiable from the information you provide in the questionnaire, and the data will only be used in aggregate form to achieve the purpose of the study.

The study is being conducted at RSU and has been approved by the Medical and Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the Riga East Clinical University Hospital Support Foundation. If you have any questions about this study, you can contact Daiga Katrina Bitena, [email protected]

Please note that submission of a completed questionnaire constitutes consent to participate in the study.

Thank you for your participation!